System and method for preparing a TV viewing schedule

• US 20030140342A1
• Filed: 12/19/2002
• Published: 07/24/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 12/20/2001
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Pioneer Corporation
• Original Assignee: Pioneer Corporation
• Inventors: Takahashi, Tsutomu, Higuchi, Masao, Hasebe, Tsuyoshi, Tanaka, Yoshitaka, Morioka, Ryuichiro, Minoshima, Kunihiro, Inagaki, Katsutoshi, Yamamura, Gaku, Watanabe, Kazutomo, Shirosaki, Yasuo
• Application Number:
  US10/322,755
• Publication Number:
  US 20030140342A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 725/46
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 2220/20 Disc-shaped record carriers
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 2220/65 wherein solid state memory is used for storing indexing information or metadata
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 27/105 of operating discs
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 27/107 of operating tapes
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 27/11 by using information not detectable on the record carrier
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 27/34 Indicating arrangements indicating means incorporated in magazine or cassette G11B23/046 and G11B23/0875; indicating measured values in general G01D
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4334 Recording operations recording of a television signal H04N5/76; arrangements for recording or accumulating broadcast information or broadcast-related information H04H60/27
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4345 Extraction or processing of SI, e.g. extracting service information from an MPEG stream
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/44224 Monitoring of user activity on external systems, e.g. Internet browsing
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4532 involving end-user characteristics, e.g. viewer profile, preferences monitoring of user activities for profile generation for accessing a video database G06F16/739; user profiles in network data switching protocols H04L67/306; processing of user preferences or user profiles in wireless networks H04W8/18
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/458 Scheduling content for creating a personalised stream, e.g. by combining a locally stored advertisement with an incoming stream; Updating operations, e.g. for OS modules ; time-related management operations arrangements for replacing or switching information during the broadcast or during the distribution H04H20/10
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4622 Retrieving content or additional data from different sources, e.g. from a broadcast channel and the Internet web site content organization and management for information retrieval from the Internet G06F16/958; transmission by internet of broadcast information H04H60/82; stock exchange data over packet-switching network H04L12/1804; push services including data channel over packet-switching network H04L12/1859
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4667 Processing of monitored end-user data, e.g. trend analysis based on the log file of viewer selections
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/47 End-user applications
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/47214 for content reservation or setting reminders; for requesting event notification, e.g. of sport results or stock market stock exchange data over packet-switching network H04L12/1804; push services over packet-switching network H04L12/1859; notification of incoming messages in packet switching networks H04L51/224
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4821 using a grid, e.g. sorted out by channel and broadcast time
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/84 Generation or processing of descriptive data, e.g. content descriptors systems specially adapted for using meta-information in broadcast systems H04H60/73
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/76 Television signal recording
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/765 Interface circuits between an apparatus for recording and another apparatus
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/781 on disks or drums
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/782 : on tape
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/85 : on discs or drums
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/907 : using static stores, e.g. storage tubes or semiconductor memories H04N5/91 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/163 : by receiver means only

Abstract

A plurality of programs are broadcast from at least one station. A system for preparing a program viewing schedule includes a program guide extractor for extracting a broadcast program guide. The broadcast program guide includes program characteristic data. The system also includes a frequency data generator for generating frequency data with regard to the program characteristic data, based on a program viewing history and/or a program recording history. A recorded program data extractor of the system extracts recorded program data. The recorded program data includes a time needed to record each program. A broadcast program allocator of the system selects a program from the broadcast program guide, based on the frequency data, and allocates the selected program in the program viewing schedule. A recorded program allocator of the system determines which program has not been viewed among the recorded programs, and allocates the unwatched program into a vacant area in the program viewing schedule.

Claims

1. A system for preparing a program viewing schedule, comprising:

a program guide extractor for extracting a broadcast program guide including program characteristic data, a plurality of programs being broadcast from at least one station;

a frequency data generator for generating frequency data with regard to the program characteristic data, based on at least one of a program viewing history and a program recording history;

a recorded program data extractor for extracting recorded program data, the recorded program data including a time needed to record each program;

a broadcast program allocator for selecting a program from the broadcast program guide, based on the frequency data, and allocating the selected program in the program viewing schedule; and

a recorded program allocator for determining an unwatched program from the recorded programs, and allocating the unwatched program to a vacant area in the program viewing schedule.

2. The system according to claim 1 further comprising a display data generating unit for generating display data to display the program viewing schedule.

3. The system according to claim 1 further comprising a setting unit for setting a time zone which the program viewing schedule covers.

4. The system according to claim 3, wherein said broadcast program allocator allocates at least one program until a predetermined percentage of the program viewing schedule is occupied by the at least one program allocated.

5. The system according to claim 1, wherein said recorded program allocator determines that a program not completely viewed is the unwatched program.

6. A method of preparing a program viewing schedule, comprising the steps of:

A) extracting a broadcast program guide including program characteristic data, a plurality of programs being broadcast from at least one station;

B) producing frequency data with regard to the program characteristic data, based on at least one of a program viewing history and a program recording history;

C) extracting recorded program data, including a time needed to record each program;

D) selecting a program from the broadcast program guide, based on the frequency data, and allocating the selected program in the program viewing schedule; and

E) determining which program is an unwatched program from the recorded programs, and allocating the unwatched program to a vacant area in the program viewing schedule.

7. The method according to claim 6 further comprising the step of generating display data to display the program viewing schedule.

8. The method according to claim 6 further comprising the step of determining a time zone the program viewing schedule covers.

9. The method according to claim 6 further comprising the step of determining a time zone the program viewing schedule covers, and wherein Step D allocates at least one program until a predetermined percentage of the program viewing schedule is occupied by the at least one program allocated.

10. The method according to claim 6, wherein Step D determines that a program not completely viewed is the unwatched program.